The Best Prop Trading Firms in Africa

A prop trading firm is a company that provides its money (significantly larger capital) to talented traders for their trading activities in the hopes of a profit split, assuming the trader is profitable. The profit split ratio is typically a win-win for both the trader, who offers their skills, and the firm that offers its capital.

While everyone says the main attraction of prop firms is access to huge trading capital without risking your own money, the reality is that you often have to risk your own money upfront to buy a “challenge” or pass an evaluation. So, the attractiveness of prop firms is not in free capital; it is in the potential for a specific kind of life that it gives, one of autonomy and significant reward, assuming that you can prove your skill and become profitable with that large, funded account.

Best Prop Firms in Africa

OneFunded – Best Overall Prop Firm
FTMO – Best for Professionals
FundedNext – Best for Long-Term Growth
Topstep – Best for Futures Trading
The Funded Trader – Best Traders Community

What Exactly is a Prop Trading Firm?

Think of a prop firm as a professional sports team, and you are the athlete trying out. Prop firms provide the “stadium” and the “equipment” for you to play the trading game. More specifically, they provide their own capital (the money you trade with), advanced technology, and a platform. In return for a chance to use this capital, you agree to share a percentage of the profits you make with the firm.

It is essential to understand that not all prop firms operate in the same manner. The newest and popular model is the challenge-based firm. Here, you pay a one-time fee to take a trading evaluation (the “challenge”). If you pass by meeting specific profit targets without breaking risk rules, you get a funded account. Traditional prop firms operate more like a full-time job, hiring traders directly without an upfront fee.

So, why are traders so interested? The appeal is simple:

Access to Capital: Most people do not have $1 million lying around, just waiting to be used. Prop firms do, and they make the funds available to interested traders who can prove their skill.
Advanced Tools: Prop firms provide trading software and data analytics that may be too costly for individual traders to get.
Structured Environment: Prop trading rules help traders develop discipline, a core part of long-term success.

It is absolutely important to note that this is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It is a professional journey that requires discipline and a solid strategy. Prop firms are not giving away free money; they are making a business bet on your ability to be consistently profitable.

The Contenders: Best Prop Trading Firms in Africa

We considered a range of key factors to provide a comprehensive view. Our selection of the top 5 Prop firms in Africa is based on their reputation in the trading community, what current traders are saying in reviews, how much capital they offer, their profit splits, and any unique features or innovations they bring to the table.

We focused on firms that are frequently discussed in major online trading forums and have a track record of reliability. Remember, the “best” firm is the one that fits your personal trading style and goals. Think of this list as your starting line-up of top contenders.

Best Prop Trading Firms Picks in Africa

Here is a detailed look at the leading prop trading firms for this year.

1. OneFunded

OneFunded is a top-tier choice for traders in Africa, due to its dedication to creating a balanced and trader-friendly environment that appeals to both newcomers and experienced traders.

Evaluation Process: OneFunded typically allows traders to choose between a one-step or two-step challenge, both of which are designed to be clear and achievable without overly complex rules.
Capital & Scaling Opportunities: Upon completing the challenge phase, successful traders are given access to substantial initial capital up to $200,000.
Profit Share: OneFunded offers a generous profit split of up to 90 percent for the trader, ensuring you keep a large majority of the earnings you generate.
Key Features & Unique Selling Points: What truly sets OneFunded apart are its flexible challenge formats and unique Rewards Center. The 1F limited challenge is an advanced two-phase evaluation designed to offer the most generous trading conditions. The rewards centre allows you to earn points for simple tasks, which can be redeemed for huge discounts or even free challenges.
Risk Management Overview: The daily loss limits on the single-step and 2-step challenges are 4% and 5% respectively. On the other hand, the maximum drawdowns are 6% and 10%, respectively.
Trader Reviews & Reputation: On Trustpilot and trading forums, users frequently praise OneFunded for its transparent communication and excellent customer service. The general sentiment is that it is a trustworthy and professional firm.

2. FTMO

FTMO is often considered the industry veteran and gold standard in prop trading, known for its rigorous evaluation and professional setup.

Evaluation Process: FTMO uses a well-known two-step evaluation process. You must pass both phases, which involve achieving a specific profit target while strictly adhering to daily and overall loss limits.
Capital & Scaling Opportunities: Account sizes range from $10,000 to $200,000. Once funded, their scaling plan allows you to grow to a peak management of $2,000,000 in capital.
Profit Share: FTMO offers an 80% profit split with the potential to reach 90% with scaling.
Key Features & Unique Selling Points: FTMO provides extensive trader metrics and analytics to help you improve. It offers access to multiple platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade) and has a reputation for incredibly reliable payouts.
Risk Management Overview: Their rules are strict, including a 5% daily drawdown and 10% overall drawdown on the initial balance. This demands high discipline.
Trader Reviews & Reputation: With a 4.8/5 score on Trustpilot from over 29,000 reviews, FTMO is widely praised for its trustworthiness and professional operation.
Potential Drawbacks: The two-step challenge is considered a difficult one to pass. Additionally, FTMO is only available to traders in the United States as FTMO US, a partnership with Oanda. This may mean a significantly more stringent trading environment for US traders due to local laws.

3. FundedNext

FundedNext has rapidly become a major player, celebrated for its high profit splits and flexible account options.

Evaluation Process: FundedNext offers a variety of evaluation models, including one-step and two-step challenges, providing traders with the flexibility to choose the approach that suits them best.
Capital & Scaling Opportunities: You can start with accounts from $5,000 to $200,000. Through their scaling plan, it is possible to manage up to $4 million in capital.
Profit Share: They offer one of the highest profit splits in the industry, going up to 95% for funded traders.
Key Features & Unique Selling Points: A major advantage is its platform support, which includes MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. They also occasionally run promotions with passing rewards and discounts.
Risk Management Overview: FundedNext offers a “balance-based” drawdown option in certain programs, which can be more flexible than the traditional “initial balance” drawdown employed by other firms.
Trader Reviews & Reputation: With a 4.6/5 score on Trustpilot, based on over 45,000 reviews, traders highlight the firm’s generous profit share and responsive support.
Potential Drawbacks: The variety of account options and rules can be overwhelming for complete beginners. It is important to read the specific terms of your chosen program carefully.

4. Topstep

Topstep is a leading force, particularly in the futures trading space, with a strong focus on trader education and development.

Evaluation Process: Topstep’s evaluation, known as the “Trading Combine,” is designed to mimic real trading and test your discipline. It involves hitting a profit target while staying within defined loss limits.
Capital & Scaling Opportunities: FundedNext offers accounts ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 in three different categories. Topstep is known for a clear and structured scaling plan that rewards consistent performance.
Profit Share: Traders keep 100% of the first $10,000 in profits per account and then 90% of all profits after that.
Key Features & Unique Selling Points: Their standout feature is an extensive library of educational resources, including webinars, video lessons, and performance coaching. They also have a proprietary platform, “TopstepTrader,” designed specifically for their evaluations, but it is not the only platform available.
Risk Management Overview: The rules are built to enforce discipline, with a maximum trailing drawdown and daily loss limits that are strictly enforced.
Trader Reviews & Reputation: Topstep is highly respected in the trading community, especially among futures traders. Users often commend the educational value and the professionalism of the platform.
Potential Drawbacks: The focus is primarily on futures, so it is not suitable for those interested in Forex or cryptocurrencies. The profit split structure, while attractive at higher levels, is different from the flat 80%-90% offered by many other firms.

5. The Funded Trader Program

The Funded Trader Program has built a strong reputation for its straightforward challenges and excellent customer engagement, often running popular promotions and community events.

Evaluation Process: They offer both one-step and two-step evaluation models with clear profit targets. Their rules are generally considered to be balanced and achievable for disciplined traders.
Capital & Scaling Opportunities: Account sizes vary, ranging from around $5,000 to $200,000 across 3 different programs with specific add-ons. They offer a scaling plan that allows traders to increase their capital up to a maximum $2.5 million after demonstrating consistent profitability.
Profit Share: The profit split is decent, typically up to 90% or more for funded traders, making it a lucrative option.
Key Features & Unique Selling Points: The Funded Trader Program is known for its active presence on social media and its frequent trading challenges with prizes. They have cultivated a strong sense of community among their traders.
Risk Management Overview: They use standard risk management rules, including a maximum drawdown limit. The rules are clearly stated on the website for different programs and are designed to be fair.
Trader Reviews & Reputation: The firm is well-regarded on platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit, although some traders have expressed some concern.
Potential Drawbacks: As a firm that relies heavily on marketing and promotions, some traders prefer a more low-key, traditional approach. Also, there are mixed reviews about support and rule enforcement. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also issued a warning about the firm providing or promoting financial services without permission.

Prop Trading Firms in Africa: A Quick Comparison

This table allows you to compare the top firms at a glance.

Firm Name	Minimum Initial Capital Offer	Profit Share (up to)	Evaluation Fee (Lowest Tier)	Key Instruments	Unique Feature Highlight
OneFunded	$2,000	90% (with add-ons)	$23	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Stocks	No time limits, transparent rules, and Rewards Center
FTMO	$10,000	90% (via scaling)	€155	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures (demo)	Industry veteran with top-tier reputation & analytics
FundedNext	$5,000	95% (via scaling)	$49	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures	Highest profit splits & balance-based drawdown option
Topstep	$50,000	90% (after $10k profit)	$49	Futures	100% profit on first $10k, best education for futures
The Funded Trader	$5,000	90%	$65	Forex, Indices, Commodities, Gold, Crypto	Strong community, frequent promotions, diverse account types

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Prop Firm

When selecting a prop firm, choose one that offers rules and rewards that you will enjoy and excel at. Before you spend any time or money, consider the following key factors.

The Deal Breakers: Money and Rules

This includes how much you can earn and the costs associated with starting.

Capital and Scaling: You should find out how much money the firm will let you trade with from scratch. What are the account size offers? Is it a little or a lot? Then, see if they have a plan to give you more money to trade when you do well. This is called scaling. It will help you make more money over time.
Profit Split: When you make a profit, you get to keep a part of it. If you make one hundred dollars, a good split might mean you get to keep eighty or ninety dollars for yourself.
Fees and Challenges: You need to know whether the challenge fee is a one-time payment or if you have to pay it monthly. Also, watch out for hidden costs that some firms might charge, like a fee for not trading enough. These hidden costs can sneakily take money away from the profits you make.

The Tools of the Trade

This includes the instruments you can trade and the platforms offered by the prop firm.

Trading Instruments: It will be a huge waste of your evaluation fee to find out after purchasing the challenge that the prop firm you chose focuses on an asset class you are not familiar with, e.g, Futures. Ensure the firm offers the markets you are interested in before you begin.
Platform and Technology: Are you required to use their platform, or can you connect with popular ones you already know and love, like MetaTrader, cTrader, or TradingView? A familiar platform can make the transition much smoother.
Risk Management Rules: These are the high-speed guardrails that keep you and the firm safe. Pay very close attention to the drawdown limit, which is the maximum loss your account is allowed to suffer from its starting point. Also, check for daily loss limits and any consistency rules that may prevent you from making one huge, risky trade.

Support and Trust

This covers everything from the firm’s payout schedule to education resources.

Payout Process: How easy is it to get your money? Research how often they process payouts (e.g., monthly, bi-weekly) and what methods they use (bank transfer, cryptocurrency, etc.). A firm’s reputation is built on fast, reliable payouts.
Education and Community: Look for any educational resources offered. This includes tutorial videos, one-on-one mentorship, or an online community. This tiny detail can make all the difference in the most odd situations. You may never need them, but it’s always better to have them.
Reputation: Scan through review websites and forums like TrustPilot and Reddit. You should be aware of the firm’s operational history. Read the experiences of users and ex-users. Also search for what the firm had to say in response to user reviews. These will give you a general sense of the firm’s reputation.

The Role of Technology in Prop Firm Trading in 2025

Technology is rapidly changing the prop trading world. It creates new opportunities to succeed, but it also raises the bar.

Artificial Intelligence

Smart computer programs and AI are now a big part of trading. In the past, only big companies used them. Now, many prop firms and regular traders use AI. These smart programs analyze huge amounts of information to find patterns, predict what the market might do next, and make trading plans work even better.

Some programs can even place trades automatically at super high speeds, which removes the problem of people making decisions based on fear or excitement.

Trading Platforms

The platforms that traders use to access the markets are also getting better. Newer platforms can now place orders almost instantly. The user interface of these platforms is super modern and designed to enhance the experience of traders.

Tools are way easier to find than ever before, making trading easier, especially for traders who place many trades within a short timeframe

Analytical tools

Traders now use special tools to carefully study their own past trades. They can see exactly what they did well and what they did poorly. This helps them identify small improvements in their plan and make more informed changes based on actual evidence, rather than just intuition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Prop Trading Firms Legitimate?

Yes, most well-known firms with strong reputations are completely legitimate businesses. However, like in any industry, there can be bad actors. The key is to ensure you have enough information and social proof of the firm’s operation.

How Much Can a Funded Trader Make?

Your earnings are a direct result of three things: the amount of capital you are trading, the profit split you have with the firm, and, most importantly, your own skill and consistency.

Is Prop Trading Right for Beginners?

Yes, it can be. Prop firm trading should not be your first-ever trading experience. You need a solid understanding of trading fundamentals and, most critically, disciplined risk management. Otherwise, you may likely lose your evaluation fee quickly.

Suppose you are a beginner with a solid grasp of these key concepts, you can look for firms with educational resources and choose a smaller, less expensive challenge to start.

What’s the Difference Between Prop Firms and Brokers?

A prop firm provides you with its capital to trade. You share in the profits and losses of that firm’s money. A broker, on the other hand, provides you with a platform to trade your money. You pay the broker a small commission or spread on each trade, but you keep 100% of your profits and absorb 100% of your losses.

Conclusion

The prop trading industry is now full of opportunities. It is one way to manage significant capital and build a career at your own pace, but it is a journey for those who are prepared and professional. Now that you know the top 5 prop firms for African traders, the next step is action.

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Sign up for these various prop firms for free and see if they have free trials that you can take to get a hang of their unique trading environments. In the absence of free trials, you can apply the rules from various prop firms to your personal demo trading to test which set of rules best suits you.

Remember, the goal is not just passing a challenge; it is about becoming financially independent and growing professionally. The capital is out there waiting for skilled traders. With dedication and the right approach, you can position yourself to claim it.